New Zealand Force South East Asia

New Zealand Force South East Asia (NZFORSEA)[1] (1974–1989) comprised the elements of the Royal New Zealand Navy, New Zealand Army and Royal New Zealand Air Force. Much of the New Zealand military left Singapore as part of operation Kupe in 1989,[2] leaving behind a residual Defence Support Unit (NZDSU).

New Zealand Force South East Asia
Active1974–1989
Country New Zealand
Garrison/HQSingapore

Background

Although New Zealand has had a military presence in South East Asia for most of the post WWII period, it was not until the disestablishment of the ANZUK Force in 1974,[3] comprising Australian, New Zealand and United Kingdom military personnel, that New Zealand established a self-supporting national presence in the region.

Formally established on 30 January 1974, NZFORSEA was under the direct command of Ministry of Defence in New Zealand. Although NZFORSEA was based in Singapore, its normal area of operation, the territories of Malaysia and Singapore, was identical with its predecessor, the ANZUK Force.

Administrative arrangements and function

The ANZUK Force operated under the 1971 Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) between Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Singapore and Malaysia.[4] This arrangement provided the framework for NZ FORSEA whose primary role was defined to be:

  • Promote stability in the area.
  • Enhance New Zealand's political and diplomatic influence in the region.
  • Assist the development of the Armed Forces of countries in the area.
  • Implement the Mutual Assistance Programme, where the force provided assistance and conducted exercises with armed forces of countries in the area, particularly those of Singapore and Malaysia.

With the Headquarters sited at the Stores Basin area adjacent to the current Sembawang Naval Basin, This was the last major foreign military presence based in Singapore. Total military strength at the time stood at 850 with some 700 dependants. NZFORSEA took over many of British married quarters, recreational and welfare facilities at Nee Soon, Sembawang and Woodlands.

Units of the NZFORSEA

NZFORSEA was required to provide its own logistical support as well as a number of services to United Kingdom and Australian forces and comprised the following units during it existence:

NZ Force Headquarters

HQ NZFORSEA was a Tri-service Headquarters unit, commanded by a Brigadier equivalent and provided a headquarters with a nucleus of staff officers and support staff, including[5]

  • Personnel Branch
  • Operations Branch
  • Finance Branch (Finance Advisor and the Civilian Establishment and Pay Office (CEPO))
  • Support Branch
    • Education Section,
    • Photographic Section,
    • Communications Centre,
    • Pass Issue Office.
  • NZ Installation Auxiliary Police Unit[6]
    The Installations Auxiliary Police Force (IAPF) was a small police force, staffed by Singaporeans but commanded by an NZ officer to provide security to the whole area.
  • Legal Services Office.

ANZMIS

Australian New Zealand Military Intelligence Staff

Royal New Zealand Navy

Although no Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) vessels were permanently based at Singapore, there were frequent deployments of RNZN vessels and a good number of individual RNZN personnel were posted to all of the NZFORSEA units

1 RNZIR
Main article: Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment

Based at Dieppe Barracks, 1st Battalion Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (1 RNZIR)[7] was a light infantry battalion with a long history in South East Asia, Originally deployed to South East Asia in 1957, the battalion was first based at Taiping and then Terendak in Malaysia, Nee Soon Camp and Dieppe Barracks in Singapore.[8] In its 32-year history serving in South East Asia, the Battalion had been involved in the Malayan Emergency 1950–1960, the Indonesia–Malaysia Confrontation1963–66 and the Vietnam War 1967–1971.

NZ Transport Squadron
Main article: New Zealand Transport Squadron

NZ Transport Squadron was responsible for providing Movements, Catering and Transport support the NZFORSEA units. Originally created as E Platoon 10 Transport Coy, Royal New Zealand Army Service Corps(RNZASC) in April 1974 at Dieppe Barracks. In October 1974 it was unofficially renamed 18(NZ) Transport Company, RNZASC and relocated to the Naval Base. In May 1979 it was renamed NZ Transport Squadron Royal New Zealand Corps of Transport (RNZCT)[9]

NZ Advanced Ordnance Depot
Main article: New Zealand Advanced Ordnance Depot

From 1974 to 1989 the Royal New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps (RNZAOC) maintained the New Zealand Advanced Ordnance Depot (NZAOD) in Singapore in order to provide Ordnance services to NZFORSEA units.[10]

NZ Work Services Unit

Formed on 1 September 1975, NZ Work Services Unit (NZWSU) primary responsibility was the maintenance and repair of all NZFORSEA buildings and real estate.[11]

NZ Force Hospital

Located at the former Royal Navy Medical Centre Woodlands, the NZ Force hospital provided medical care for NZ servicemen, NZ Civilian staff, dependants and members of visiting forces.

NZ Dental Unit

Formed on 1 May 1974, the NZ Dental Unit provided Dental Services to NZ servicemen, NZ Civilian staff, dependants and members of visiting forces.

NZ MP Unit

A Tri-Service platoon sized unit, The NZ MP unit provided policing support to NZFORSEA.

NZ Workshops

A Royal New Zealand Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RNZEME) unit, NZ Workshop[12] was established at Kangaw Barracks on 1 October 1974 when the ANZUK Workshop was split into the 28 UK Bde Spt Workshop and NZ workshop NZFORSEA. Progressively moving into the former Royal Navy (MT) Workshop at the Naval Base as Royal Navy withdrew. As much as possible the NZ Workshop provided services on par with a New Zealand RNZEME Workshop, including;

  • HQ and Orderly Room
  • Production Cell
  • MT Section
  • GE Section
  • Tels Section
  • Instrument Section
  • Trade Repair Section
  • Quartermaster Section
  • NZAOC Stores Section

41 Squadron RNZAF
Main article: No. 41 Squadron RNZAF

41 Squadron RNZAF Originally deployed to RAF Changi in Singapore as part of an expansion of New Zealand's commitment to the Commonwealth Far East Strategic Reserve [13][14] in 1955 and was equipped with four Bristol Freighters. From 1971 a flight equipped with Bell UH-1 Iroquois helicopters joined 41 Squadron.

In December 1977 41 Squadron returned to New Zealand and disbanded during December 1977.[15] Following the disbandment of the unit, its Iroquois aircraft remained in Singapore as Support Unit Singapore.

Support Unit Singapore/141 Flight RNZAF

Support Unit Singapore,[16] which was renamed No. 141 Flight RNZAF in 1985 to recognise its 41 Squadron origins. This flight was disbanded in 1989, ending the permanent presence of RNZAF units in South East Asia.[17]}

Education

To support the Force and dependants NZFORSEA maintained a number of educational facility's:

NZ Force Library

The NZ force Library consisted if two library's:

  • Dieppe Barracks, which served 1 RNZIR and 141 Flight
  • Sembawang Library, which was both a school and community Library

NZ Force Playgroup

NZ Force Playgroup was run by mothers and catered for children 0–3 years

NZ Force Preschool

NZ Force Playgroup for children 3–5 years

NZ Force School

The NZ Force School traced its roots back to the 1960s when 1 RNZIR was based in Terendak Camp in Malaysia. Up to 1974 schooling for NZ dependants was provided in combined Australian/United Kingdom and New Zealand Schools at Woodlands, Changi, Tengah and Sembawang. In 1976 the school came under New Zealand Department of Education regulations. By 1981 all the schools were centralised at Sembawang. Schooling was provided for New Zealand dependants, from infant classes to Form 7 (year 13).[18]

Welfare and Recreation

NZFORSEA provided soldiers and dependants many welfare and recreational activities, including:

  • NZ Force Triathlon Team
  • NZ Force Tennis club
  • NZ Force Squash Club
  • Tigers Rugby club
  • NZ Force Soccer club
  • NZ Force Runners club
  • NZ Force Taekwondo
  • Kiwi Woman's Bowling League
  • Neptune Swimming club
  • NZ Force Theatre club
  • NZ Force Scouts and Guides

Dress Distinctions

NZ Army personnel posted to NZFORSEA wore the following dress distinctions:

  • NZ Flash – NZ Flash was affixed to each shoulder epaulette.
NZ epaulette flash
  • Kiwis – NZ Army posted to NZFORSEA wore a Kiwi patch on each shoulder, except for 1 RNZIR personnel who only wore the Kiwi patch on the right shoulder.
  • NZFORSEA Kiwi patch right shoulder
  • NZFORSEA Kiwi patch left shoulder

See also

References
  1. McGibbon, Ian (2000). The Oxford Companion of New Zealand Military History. Oxford. p. 369. ISBN 0195583760.
  2. "Staying in Singapore?: New Zealand's third Labour government and the retention of military forces in Southeast Asia". Waicato University. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  3. "ANZUK". Digger History. Archived from the original on 28 August 2010. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  4. "Five Power Defence Arrangements". globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  5. New Zealand Force South East Asia Yearbook. 1988.
  6. Singapore support unit update (PDF). Issue 465: NZ Army News. August 2012. p. 22. Retrieved 30 August 2016.CS1 maint: location (link)
  7. Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment Unit History. "Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment Unit History". premierstrategics.com/. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  8. "New Zealand military headquarters in Singapore". nzhistory.net.nz. Archived from the original on 23 September 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  9. Millen, Julia (1997). Salute to Service. Victoria University Press. ISBN 0864733240.
  10. Bolton, Major J.S (1996). A History of the Royal New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps. RNZAOC. p. 211. ISBN 0477015816.
  11. New Zealand Force South east Asia Yearbook. 1989. p. 59.
  12. New Zealand Force South East Asia Yearbook. 1988. p. 72.
  13. McClure 2012, pp. 157–158.
  14. "RNZAF timeline – Royal New Zealand Air Force". New Zealand History online. New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
  15. Martyn 2010, p. 203.
  16. New Zealand Force South East Asia Yearbook. 1989. p. 108.
  17. Martyn 2010, p. 210.
  18. "NZ Forces School". anzmilitarybratsofsingapore. Retrieved 1 September 2016.

Further reading
  • Ian McGibbon (Ed.), (2000). The Oxford Companion to New Zealand Military History.
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